Dams and dam removals, both, can have profound impacts on the watershed within a physical, ecological, and socio-economic context. What the fish want, what the landowners want, and what the public wants are usually different and at odds with the others. It is rare that any management decision will have no negative repercussions. As is true for any engineering problem, it is best to approach the problem from a holistic point of view. Some sample questions to consider when removing a dam: where will the sediment go? how long will it take to get there? will the banks become unstable? how long will ecologic recovery take? is such recovery detectable? will the diversity change in the area? How do political policies encourage or discourage removal? what is the security of future water supply? what are the short and long term costs to the owners? to the water users? will the structure be missed as a cultural relic?